We have been advising policyholders for years that insurance companies are in business to make a profit. The two predominate ways they accomplish this is by:
Underpaying Covered Claims
and Denying Covered Claims
In fact, there are several websites out there started by policyholders, desperately attempting to notify consumers about their insurance claim dilemmas. This banner here is for the website DeniedByStateFarm.org You can tell this is a major issue when an entire organization is created about the subject of wrongfully denied claims.
Below is an all too common story about policyholders who have had Denied Insurance Claims and are in a dispute with their carriers. Robert Baker, a commercial roofing contractor, states, “…when it comes to large scale commercial claims, this practice of denying claims is common, and in most cases hiring a public adjuster or filing lawsuits are necessary in order to be paid.”
In addition, the public adjuster for the Friends & Family worship center, said, “…this case is just one of hundreds, maybe thousands in our region”, about denied insurance claims.
The insurance company even fails to respond to the local news about their actions. “Pronews 7 contacted Travelers Insurance, the church’s insurance company, but they did not return our phone calls. We also spoke with the lawyer assigned to this case by Travelers and she declined to comment.”
Has many of your neighbors roofs been replaced by their insurance company, yet your claim was denied? Do you feel your insurance claim for hail damage has been wrongfully denied? Either way, residents on NC can obtain a Free Storm Damage Claim Inspection to find out for sure by calling (919) 400-6440
Read more about the denied insurance claims of the Friends & Family worship center and other policyholders in their area below:
A year after the Panhandle’s devastating hailstorm, the Friends & Family worship center in Amarillo has still not fixed its roof, and it’s leaking every time it rains.
Many local property owners still have insurance claims from last year’s hail storm that are being denied by insurance companies. According to local contractor Robert Baker, when it comes to large scale commercial claims, this practice of denying claims is common, and in most cases hiring a public adjuster or filing lawsuits are necessary in order to be paid.
The folks at the Friends and Family Worship Center said their insurance company is claiming that their roof wasn’t damaged by the hailstorm.
“We’ve had a claim with this insurance company, traveler’s insurance company for a year now, and we came in this past Friday and we had a major leak,” said Pastor Gary Snider of the Friends and Family Worship Center.” “All the water has come in and damaged the children’s church area.”
Public Adjuster Rob Kitto said that the Friends & Family Worship Center and the Cornerstone Outreach center, which share a building, are currently suing the insurance company, and that this case is just one of hundreds, maybe thousands in our region.
“A year into the storm a lot of homeowners or property owners are fighting with their insurance companies or unsure how to handle a claim they should have been paid that was denied, these claims are now starting to go to court and are being heard by judges and local juries,” said Rob Kitto.
According to Pastor Joe and Pastor Gary, Traveler’s Insurance said that the damage to their building is not due to hail.
“Facts are facts; there were no leaks until the night of the hailstorm, and now we have water coming in and damaging the building, and the property,” said Pastor Joe Kirkwood. “We’re constantly putting buckets and even in one room we have to put a swimming pool out to catch all the water.”
Public Adjuster Rob Kitto said if you’re still having problems with your claim, it’s important to first try to work with your insurance company.
“If you’re a consumer who’s having problems with your claim, the first thing I would do is call your agent and try to work with them,” said Rob Kitto. “Try to work with your insurance company to get it resolved.” “If that’s not able to be done, and you’re not satisfied, look for a public adjuster or seek legal advice.”
Pronews 7 contacted Travelers Insurance, the church’s insurance company, but they did not return our phone calls. We also spoke with the lawyer assigned to this case by Travelers and she declined to comment.
As you can see, if your claim has been denied… you’re not alone. So, what can you do? It’s your property. If you do not reach out for assistance then the Insurance Industry Denial Game has worked on you. It’s time to stand up and be heard. Residents on NC can obtain a Free Storm Damage Claim Inspection to find out for sure by calling (919) 400-6440
RESOURCES:
Its sad, but true. Especially when it seems that houses of worship are particularly prone to claim denials of under payments (my only guess is that churches in general may give a bit too much benefit of the doubt)..
And it is also not limited to the aforementioned insurance company (I am banned from using their name on the internet), all the insurance carriers do this, to some extent. I really comes down to the individual adjuster, and although there are many decent, honest staff adjusters, the bad ones are so bad, that it is essentially crazy to submit an insurance claim without a public adjuster or attorney…
The people of Boston and surrounding cities in Massachusetts must be prepared for this as well, because hail claims are very difficult and the local adjusters have very little experience with spotting hail and thus have major deficiencies…
Remember, not all insurance adjusters are malicious, but the few that are, make a property damage claim very dangerous alone. Its like locking your car door, its not that EVERYBODY is a thief, but you have to prepare for the worse to protect yourself.
Thomas Di Sieno
Digitory Solutions, Inc.
http://www.DigitorySolutions.net
Thomas,
Your statement, “Its like locking your car door, its not that EVERYBODY is a thief, but you have to prepare for the worse to protect yourself.” is so true. It never hurts to be prepared.